The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Hi-Ho

The song of the day for Friday, September 25, 2020, is “Hi-Ho.”

About Today

In honor of the birth of Jacob Bruskin Gershowitz on September 26, 1898, The Year of Tony Bennett begins a week-long celebration of the music of George Gershwin.

About This Song

“Hi-Ho” was written in 1936 by George and Ira Gershwin. “Hi-Ho” has been called ‘Gershwin’s least-known great song’ by blogger Walter Rimler. It was one of the first songs the Gershwin brothers wrote when they first came to Hollywood and was slated for the movie Shall We Dance, featuring Fred Astaire dancing in the streets of Paris. The song was cut due to concerns over the costs for filming the sequence. The song faded from view and was only published in 1967. Tony Bennett’s was the first recording of this song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Hi-Ho” in 1968 for the album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.


“Hi-Ho,” as well as Yesterday I Heard The Rain, is available from Apple Music.

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Tony Live! Watch What Happens

The song of the day for Saturday, July 3, 2020, is “Watch What Happens.”

About Today

Today, our Tony Live! series moves to Buffalo, New York in May 1977. Tony Bennett, Marian McPartland, and a lot more talented musicians did a show at the Statler Hilton’s Downtown Club in Buffalo. Accompanying Tony was Torrie Zito on piano, John Guiffrida on bass, and Joe Cocuzzo on drums.

About This Song

“Watch What Happens” was composed by Michel Legrand for the lovely 1964 French film The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. The film’s director and screenwriter, Jacques Demy, wrote the original lyrics. Norman Gimbel wrote the English lyrics. Bennett’s first recording of “Watch What Happens” was made for his 1965 album If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. It was the first recording of the song with the Gimbel lyrics.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version in May 1977 in Buffalo, New York; the show also featured Marian McPartland and a fine jazzband, led by cornettist Jimmy McPartland. The show was released on Bennett’s Improv label as Tony Bennett, The McPartlands and Friends Make Magnificent Music and was included as a CD in the 2011 Complete Collection. Currently, it is available on The Complete Improv Recordings.

“Watch What Happens,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from Apple Music.

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Tony Live! There Will Never Be Another You

The song of the day for Saturday, June 27, 2020, is “There Will Never Be Another You.”

About This Song

“There Will Never Be Another You” was written in 1942 by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon for the movie Iceland, starring Sonja Henie and John Payne. The song was introduced in the movie by Joan Merrill. Amazingly, this beautiful song was not nominated for an Academy Award. No matter. The song has become a serious jazz standard and has had many fine recordings, including Bennett’s 1959 recording with Count Basie and his 1962 improvisation with Dave Brubeck at the White House Sessions. Other significant recordings include those by Lionel Hampton, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “There Will Never Be Another You” in 1971 in concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, playing with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert was released on the album Get Happy. The arrangement was by Torrie Zito; the same arrangement as the one Zito did for Tony’s 1968 album Yesterday I Heard The Rain.

“There Will Never Be Another You,” as well as Get Happy, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: What The World Needs Now Is Love

The song of the day for Monday, May 25, 2020, is “What The World Needs Now Is Love.”

About This Song

“What The World Needs Now Is Love” was written in 1965 by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was first sung by Jackie DeShannon in 1965. The song went on to be recorded by a wide variety of artists, from Judy Garland and Tony Bennett to Luther Vandross to Coldplay.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “What The World Needs Now Is Love” in 1969 for his album I’ve Gotta Be Me. The arrangement is by Torrie Zito.

“What The World Needs Now Is Love,” as well as I’ve Gotta Be Me, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Get Happy

The song of the day for Monday, March 2, 2020, is “Get Happy.”

About This Song

“Get Happy” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the 1930 The Nine-Fifteen Revue, where it was introduced by Ruth Etting. Most people today are more familiar with Judy Garland’s wonderful song and dance performance in the 1950 movie Summer Stock.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Get Happy” in 1968 for his album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. The arrangement was written by Torrie Zito.

“Get Happy,” as well as Yesterday I Heard the Rain, is available from iTunes.

Here’s Judy Garland singing and dancing to “Get Happy” from the 1950 movie Summer Stock.

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